| |
| |
|
Faith411.com - Religion |
|
|
|
Vital information and articles related to Religion.Religious Tolerance and the Internet
The internet is a great resource of information on all kinds of topics, including religion. Unfortunately, there is also no shortage of religious intolerance and just plain bad information on the internet as well. Of course, even generally trusted sources of information such as dicitonaries, encyclopedias, and textbooks contain some errors. As an example, I have a Dictionary of Christianity which says that Lutherans believe in consubstantiation. However, if you ask a Lutheran pastor, he will say this is not true. Newspapers are presumably more likely to contain errors due to the fact that news stories develop quickly and they don't always have time to verify all of the information being presented before press time. With the internet, it is even more important to be discerning in what you read. Afterall, anybody with no training or credentials of any kind can self-publish on the internet. As a result, you will find all kinds of opinions on the internet, and lots of information being published with little or no effort to verify sources. As they say, "You can't believe everything you read." There's a supposedly Japanese version that goes like this: "If you believe everything you read, better not read." Of course, in our modern society it would be hard to get along without reading. So, it obviously would make more sense to adopt a few guidelines for reading in a discerning way to avoid being "taken in" by bad information. Below is an attempt at a few such guidelines with a particular focus on evaluating information regarding religious topics. 1) Consider the source. a. Is the author hostile toward the religion they are discussing? If so, they are probably not an unbiased and trustworthy source of information. b. Does the author go in for conspiracy theories? If so, they are probably easily duped by false information which they may then pass on to others. c. Is the author an apparently unbiased outsider? If so, much of their information may be from other outsiders, some of whom may be hostile, so they may be unknowingly spreading false information. d. Is the author a zealous insider? If so, they may be trying very hard to promote their own point of view with little regard to checking facts. e. Is the author an apparently unbiased insider? If so, the author may attempt to be unbiased, but may be influenced by information from other biased sources. 2) Check sources. a. Does the author tell you the source of his information? In most cases, the author is not the originator (primary source) of the information. If they don't give their sources, how can you verify that their sources are trustworthy? b. If the author has listed sources, who are those sources? Are they likely to be biased or unbiased? c. Some authors may include a very long list of sources in order to impress the reader, which also makes it harder to check all of them. Who has the time? If this is the case, try to determine which sources are the most important and check them first. 3) Verify accuracy. a. If possible, verify that the author has not misquoted his sources or taken them out of context. b. As much as possible, verify dates, facts, and figures. The author, Greg Bonney, is the owner of Bonney Information and E-Commerce and founder of Scoutcamping.com (http://www.scoutcamping.com). Copyright © 2005 Bonney Information and E-Commerce.
MORE RESOURCES:
Religion - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
A Worship Leader is a Spiritual Leader This article is for worship leaders. And as such, I believe it needs to focus on leadership skills. Holy Communion: Key to Spiritual Healing Chronically-ill Christians who do not believe in spiritual healing of the sick today should examine their participation in Holy Communion as to why they remain sick.The Lord's Supper (Eucharist or Holy Communion accordingto your tradition) consists of two elements: The cup representing Jesus' shed blood, and the bread representing His broken body (I Corinthians 11:23-26). Fundamental Church Failures Every great human movement toward freedom, whether commercial, political or religious or a combination thereof, begins with the determination of concerned men and women to make life better by resolving recurring human problems. The Renaissance and the Age of Reason occurred through the efforts of talented people to end the brutal political, financial and religious abuses common within Medieval Europe. The Bible - Are Some of Its Words More Important Than Others? Is the Old Testament equal in every way to the New Testament? Are the words of the prophets on a par with the words of Jesus? The answer to this question may seem incongruous but it is not, even though the answer is both, yes and no. But don't be confused by this apparent conflict because it is easily explained. Moses v. Jesus: Why do Conservative Christians Prefer Moses Commandments to Jesus Beatitudes? Why are conservative Christians so concerned about displaying the Ten Commandments in public and especially in courtrooms?Conservatives and their lawyers claim that the Ten Commandments are (or, should regain their position) at the heart of American jurisprudence because the Decalogue represents our commitment to Rule of Law. And, they have made these arguments in cases like McCreary County v. The Wisdom of this World is Foolishness with God Once you start to receive the knowledge and wisdom of God flowing into your life - you will find something very interesting that will start to happen. You'll start to see the difference between the knowledge and wisdom of God versus the knowledge and wisdom of this world. Billy Graham- America Salutes You America has had its great share of renowned preachers, missionaries and evangelists but none can hold a candle to the Reverend Billy Graham. His influence is worldwide but for Americans his life and ministry have been both influential and a matter of pride. Can Jewish Americans Still Have Devout Catholic Friends? America is dividing again. Jewish Americans are finding it hard to discuss issues with devout Catholics who go with the flow and support the new Pope, Benedict XVI a former Hitler Youth. Bishoprics BISHOP OF CARCASSONNE: - There are so many exemplars of deceit and greed who have worn the mantle of Bishop or Arch-Bishop. It continues to the present day to say the least but fortunately some of these men of the cloth are being exposed in court and not just in the hiding places of their fine churches where they have conducted all manner of ghastly and abusive acts throughout the ages. Where is God? Where is God? This is the question most often heard when things are not going right in our lives or we hear of senseless fatalities or extreme injustices. But I pose this question today because I cannot find Him in ways that I could when I was growing up. Judgement Day For it is written in Matthew 12:36 But I tell you that men will have to give account of the day of judgement for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your word you will be condemned. Recognizing Apostasy and Deception PREFACE TO UNDERSTANDING APOSTASY AND DECEPTIONIn the "last days" the greatest deception ever perpetrated on mankind will beguile mankind, including Christians. One great nation, headed by the antichrist, will subdue the nations of the earth and dominate the world. Here's Help for the "I Can't Say 'No' Blues" I hear it all the time. Cries from Christian women who want desperately to serve the Lord, but who feel overwhelmed. Early Spring Cleaning Has anyone noticed how fast 2004 is going? Hey, we are in December already. I really like December not only because peopleare nicer to each other and all the pretty decorations are around,but people stop and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. Does Society Need a St. Bernard? You all know the big dogs that carry rum to save Swiss or alpine skiers caught in a storm or some other trouble. That is not the St. Divine Power/Jesus is over Everything Divine power is so great, Paul an apostle of Christ Jesus says in 2Corinthians 10:3, For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. Purity Is being purified only for the men of the cloth? Well let's see what the Bible says. In the book of 2Samuel David sang a song to the Lord. Jesus Was a Hippie Actually he was more appropriately called a Cynic, but that kind of free-thinking humanist is indeed kin to being a Hippie. The Cynics were a school of thought or religious approach to intellectual understanding which many more modern hippies seem to emulate. Jesus Christ, King of the Jews In 132 CE, Simon Bar Kosiba organized and led a large guerilla army in revolt against Roman occupation. He succeeded in actually throwing the Romans out of Jerusalem and Israel and establishing, although for only a brief period, an independent Jewish state. Preachers In America Will Cause Americas Demise American Preachers Are At The Forefront Of The Travesties Committed Against God.We in America have been very fortunate in the many privileges and freedoms that we enjoy.
|
|
Religion Articles Home Page | Religion Articles Site Map | News | Faith411.com Home Page Buddhism | Christianity | Hinduism | Islam - Muslim | Judaism | Shintoism | Sikhism | Taoism EZmatic.com | IgoJo | UpBee | Blue Ryder | Health | ZippyGo | Ken J Wagner Faith411.com - all Vital information and articles related to Religion. |
| © 2006 |
